Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Recap: "All About Jessa"

Only two days to go until Jessa and Ben tie the knot! The
Duggar house is packed with family and friends who are in town for the wedding.

Jessa and Ben decide they don't want separate bachelor and
bachelorette parties because they don't want to be apart, so they plan a joint flag
football game.

Jim Bob and Ben are the team captains, so there will be
intense competition. "He's getting Jessa, but I was going to win this
football game," says Jim Bob, whose team ends up defeating Ben's team.

After the game, the married couples share advice with Jessa
and Ben.

"I think Ben is as ready for marriage as he will ever
be," says his dad, Michael.

The family looks back on Jessa's childhood. "Jessa was
full of energy," says Jim Bob. "She was a handful." Jessa says
she loved growing up with 18 siblings, and she learned to be very organized
from a young age.

"Jessa's gift of organization was there when she was a
little bitty girl," says Michelle. The mom of 19 was especially thankful
for her third-oldest daughter's gift while Josie was in the NICU after her
premature birth and Michelle had to be by her side.

Jessa is also a master packer. She usually doesn't forget
anything important, except for the time when the family left for a road trip
and then realized that they didn't have socks or underwear for the eight
youngest boys.

Josh says Jessa is a lot like him. She will tell you what
she thinks, even when you don't want to hear it.

For the past several years, Jessa has played a key role in
homeschooling her younger siblings and is very good at motivating them to work.
"The younger kids listen to Jessa," says Jill.

Who will fill in the gap once Jessa leaves the nest?
Michelle isn't sure yet, but she knows that whoever steps in will have big
shoes to fill.

"We respected Jessa as a teacher," says Jedidiah.
"She pretty much knew what she was talking about all the time."

Jessa also has a lot of spunk behind her, as proven when she
and her mom went skydiving a few years ago. "Whose mom goes
skydiving?" says Jessa. "I have the coolest mom."

Jessa is very close with her sisters, especially Jinger, who
is just 412 days younger than her. "Our personalities are totally
different, and so we work together very well," says Jinger.

The Seewalds also reflect on Ben's childhood. "He's
really kind," says Ben's brother Ethan. "And kind of acts like you
are his age, and he treats you kindly."

"He was a big encourager," says his mother, Guinn.

Jessa and Ben started getting to know each other in group
settings in 2013. Guinn reminded her son that Jessa has a bunch of guys
knocking on her door, so he shouldn't get his hopes up. But he ended up winning
her heart.

"Ben is definitely a good match for Jessa," says
Anna. "...they definitely balance each other well."

17 comments:

It was when Josie was born plus a she was eighteen and helping her family. On top of that it will help her in the future. It's no different then someone else helping their child at home when you send them to public school or using a computer program for schooling like a lot of older kids use instead of parent even though the "parent is home schooling".

I totally agree with your comment about Guinn. She seems like a sweet lady. My heart has gone out to her as I found myself empathizing with her, knowing how a mother's heart is tugged as she parts with a beloved son.

The way these siblings love and respect each other is just so sweet, it's rare these days to see the boys in the family just as involved and excited about babies and little ones.So many families on T.V. are so dysfunctional, they fight like cats and dogs.You seriously cannot find fault in the way this family truly likes/loves/respects each other.If I had to pick a family to represent this country to another's, I certainly would pick them over some of these other reality types...think about it.

Well I'm glad this finally about Jesse. I'm very happy for Jesse and Ben. Can't wait until next week. I noticed at the football game JILL just sat there while everyone was having fun.also how can a married couple give advice when you only been married a few months?

Jill just sat there ? Well could that be because she was six months pregnant. Newly married couples certainly can give advice on what it was like for them when they went through it. There are not many people out there chaperoned virgins anymore

You learn and reinforce what you've learned by teaching others. The life skills those kids have learned will help them in adult life. My older brother and I had responsibilities growing up. It was more about teaching us how to do things, teaching us responsibility, teaching us to work together and care for our family than it was about getting the task done. What do kids do today? Master video games,recite line from their favorite movies. I applaud them for the way they have raised their kids!

@AnonymousI KNOW, I was raised with families that fall apart 5/6, with my parents being one of them, so I never wanted to get married!!! I never saw any happy marriages. When I saw that people can and are, then I was willing to give it a try!! Even with my own friends, they all got divorced too, and moved away! I am slowly growing towards marriage, I hope with all the things I'm doing, I hope God will put a man forward, and I'll get a warm wonderful family like the Duggars!!

I just want to give some credit to the great young men these girls fell in love with and chose to marry. You are both great and should be very proud. I know your parents are. I sometimes feel, and granted this is the "Duggar Blog", you've not been given much recognition in comparison. Hope all the best for you all and a life that is full!

I would love to see Jana move out and get a place of her own, maybe even with John David as a roommate. It IS possible for young people to maintain Christian standards while living on their own. There's nothing to be afraid of. Spread your wings, beautiful Jana!

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Welcome to the premiere source for factual, encouraging updates on Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids (TLC's 19 Kids and Counting & Counting On). Our site is not maintained by the Duggars, but we (Lily and Ellie) are personal friends of the family.